India and Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma gave a very emotional speech on the day of the unveiling of the Rohit Sharma Stand at Wankhede Stadium on May 16, 2025, when he spoke of the immense gratitude he felt for his family and wife, Ritika Sajdeh. The function, one of a series of tributes to greats at Wankhede, also featured the dedication of stands for Sharad Pawar and Ajit Wadekar and the MCA Office Lounge in honor of Amol Kale. Rohit's speech was especially emotional as he welcomed the presence of his parents, brother, and wife, who were present, giving it a human touch to the professional achievement. His use of the term "Ritika Bhabhi" for Ritika brought a warm smile to his face, capturing the mood of the moment during the resumption of the IPL 2025 season on May 17 after a week-long hiatus because of India-Pakistan tensions.

Standing at the podium with the logo of MCA in the background, Rohit addressed how there was a surreal moment of having a stand named after him at Wankhede stadium where he has scored 402 runs in 11 international games and won five IPL titles as the captain of Mumbai Indians. "It will be such a special feeling to have a stand, particularly because my family—my mom and dad, my brother and his wife, and my wife, who is here with me as well—are such special individuals in my life. I am so, so thankful," he stated, his tone filled with true emotion. The speech, recorded by ANI, spoke of not only his cricketing success but also the down-to-earth impact of his family, striking a chord with fans who have watched him grow from a promising batsman to a cricketing hero.

Rohit's reference to Ritika, his constant support after their marriage in 2015, emphasized the personal depth of the achievement. Regularly seen supporting him at games, Ritika's presence at the ceremony, along with other relatives, lent some substance to the proceedings. Rohit also thanked the MCA members, Sharad Pawar, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the honor, but it was his family thanks that resonated most, showing the balance between his success professionally and values personally.

Rohit Sharma first took the name of his parents, brother and his wife and than he took the name of Ritika Bhabhi.🥹🫂
pic.twitter.com/4T6sALAyKd

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) May 16, 2025

Also Read: WATCH: Rohit Sharma stand unveiled at Wankhede stadium amidst grand ceremony

A Tribute to Family and Legacy 

The powerful emotions of Rohit's speech, moments before he led the Mumbai Indians against the Delhi Capitals on May 21 at Wankhede, will almost certainly be fondly recalled by fans. The Rohit Sharma Stand, built from multiple generations of love and support by family as lovers of cricket, is a permanent tribute to Rohit's legacy at Wankhede. While the stadium continues to celebrate Mumbai's cricket legends, the emotion behind Rohit's words and the presence of his family represent those truly valuable personal stories behind professional records that future generations will learn from.